A Golden Example

By Jennifer Maddy

Church Magazines

Studying Hard

It’s Friday afternoon at Esther G.’s school. Esther and some of her classmates eagerly await some free time, called “golden time.” They have been good throughout the week, and now they get to choose what they’d like to do during their golden time. In Esther’s class, some students listen to music. Others read books. Some of the girls like to do each other’s hair. And sometimes these “golden” students even get a treat.

Esther, age 10, who lives in Essex, England, enjoys golden time, but she would be a good student even if she didn’t get rewarded. Esther works hard at school, and she especially enjoys math and English.

Esther also works hard on her Faith in God goals. She has learned almost all of the Articles of Faith. Every time she memorizes one, she gets a small number charm to put on a bracelet. Esther and her younger sister Erica, who is also working to memorize the Articles of Faith, like wearing their bracelets and seeing that they are accomplishing their goals.

A Brave Example

Esther has met some other big challenges. When she was two years old, she was diagnosed with cancer. After a lot of treatment, she got better. But then the cancer came back when she was five. Even though she was young, Esther was very brave. She and her family prayed before her treatments, and their prayers comforted Esther and helped her be calm. She would hold her mother’s hand and tell the doctors and nurses that she was ready for her treatments.

Esther was a good example to other young patients in the hospital. Sometimes the nurses asked Esther to talk with children who were having trouble with their treatments or taking their medicine. “They would watch Esther do it without any fuss,” her mom says. Esther’s kindness helped comfort the children and even some of their parents.

Being a Missionary

Now healthy, Esther only goes to the hospital for checkups. But that doesn’t mean she has stopped being a good example for others. Esther likes inviting school and neighbor friends to church. She even invited some to her baptism.

One time, Esther and Erica prepared a special family home evening when another family came to share it with them. First, the girls read a story about baptism from the Friend. Next, they acted out the story of Jesus Christ’s baptism with paper puppets they had made. Esther read the story from the scriptures while Erica moved the puppets. Then the girls showed the dresses they wore after their baptisms. They explained why they wore white and how they felt when they were baptized. Esther and Erica like to teach, and they are good examples for their younger sister, Lydia.

Whether at school, at home, or in a challenging situation like the hospital, Esther works hard to accomplish her goals and is a great example to others along the way.

Esther’s Favorites

• Foods: toad-in-the-hole, lasagna, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese

• Hobbies: riding her bike, ballet, climbing trees

• Primary songs: “When I Am Baptized,” “If the Savior Stood beside Me”

Esther wears this bracelet to keep track of the articles of faith she has memorized.

Left: Erica and Esther with the puppets they made for family home evening. Below: Esther and her sisters are ready for school.

Esther with her younger sisters, Erica and Lydia.